Church Goes Out 5

Matthew 9:27-29

I usually make a phone call home when I am leaving the hospital after visiting someone. That way, if there is something I need to pick up, I can get it on my way home. This saves an extra trip on someone’s part.

Just as we need to be open to simple side trips in our day-to-day dealings, we need to have our eyes open for ministry opportunities when we are involved in the work of the kingdom of God. Today’s passage was the first healing of a blind person I came across. I use it as an example of all of Jesus’ healing of the blind.

How is Jesus described in verse 27? What does he ask in verse 28? What happens?

If you scan through the Gospels and look for examples of Jesus healing any blind person I believe you will discover one consistent concept. Every time Jesus heals a blind person, whether the blind person asks for it or not, Jesus is on his way somewhere. Jesus is out doing ministry when he gets interrupted or interrupts himself so that he might stop and do more ministry.

As we prepare for our own ministry we may have specific tasks in mind. We may set a specific goal of helping this group or that, of building this thing, of collecting this many canned goods, and so on. But like Jesus we must be open to the distractions of other people’s needs.

As we go out to do ministry we will likely encounter other ministry and outreach opportunities. We must be open to these encounters.

In today’s passage we see the persistence of the blind men’s faith. But we also see that Jesus was on his way somewhere and was willing to stop to heal them.

We need to be like Jesus. We may have goals in mind for our ministry or our work, but we need to be willing to be flexible. If we see a need we should respond to the need. That is part of ministry, not necessarily completing a single task that you have in mind, but being available to help wherever and whenever needed.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What can help you be more flexible in your ministry?

Church Goes Out 4

Matthew 15:25-28

Our two oldest children are looking for a job. We have been spending time helping to direct them and guide them in the process. We have also shared our experience with job searches to help them along their way.

One of the keys that is hard to internalize is the persistence you need when applying for jobs. I believe that at least one of my jobs was given to me just so that I would stop calling and bothering them.

If we can be that dogged in our job searches, then we can also be that persistent in living out our faith. After all, our faith is much more important than our work.

In Matthew we have an account of a woman who will not leave Jesus alone. While traveling Jesus encounters a Canaanite woman. Such a label means that the woman was not Jewish, but Samaritan – an enemy of the Jews. She asks for healing for her demon-possessed daughter, but Jesus ignores her.

What does the woman do? How does Jesus respond in verse 26? What does the woman’s comment in verse 27 tell us about her? What does Jesus finally do?

It can be a bit shocking to hear Jesus make such disparaging comments to the Canaanite woman. He ignores her. He lets her know she is not part of his flock. And then he basically calls her a dog.

But none of this discourages the woman and she persists in her requests for healing for her daughter. Some say that it was her willingness to accept the insult of being called a dog (verse 27) that made Jesus more willing to help. But I believe it is her continued and persistent faith that did it.

No matter how much she was ignored and insulted, her daughter’s healing was the most important thing on her mind and she would not allow anything to deter her. That example of faith impressed Jesus.

And so we have an example for ourselves. If an outsider, someone not of Jesus’ flock, can demonstrate extreme faith, then why can’t we?

This woman’s faith serves as an example to each of us. We should be willing and able to live out our faith, to go out into the world, to overcome challenges and difficulties, with a powerful faith that allows us to be persistent in serving God.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How strong is your faith?

Church Goes Out 3

Jeremiah 1:7-8

A family friend of ours had a job at a steel mill. He worked there for years and years, but he told me that whenever someone at the job asked him a question he would explain that he was a new hire and didn’t know anything. It was his way of getting out of any responsibility.

Unfortunately, so many Christians take the same attitude when it comes to their faith. So many people claim that they cannot do this or that, or they just don’t know how to do something. Someone else should do it.

It’s nothing new. The prophet Jeremiah provides an account of his call into the ministry. God told him that God had made him to be a prophet before he was even in the womb, but Jeremiah claimed that he was unable to speak. Jeremiah said that he was only a child.

What does God command? What promise does God make?

There is no denying that doing the work of God has great rewards and benefits. And I am not talking about our heavenly reward. When we share the love of God with others, when we help the needy, when we save the lost, there is a tremendous joy of knowing that we have been an instrument in the hands of God.

But there is also no denying that when we are called to do the work of God it can be very frightening. We are often asked to step outside of our comfort zone and do what we have never done before. It can be intimidating.

But what we must remember is that when we are called to do the ministry of the Lord we are not alone in our work. Just as Jeremiah had the promise of God’s presence, we also have that promise. God will be with us when we serve Him. He will not leave us vulnerable.

Like Jeremiah each one of us has been formed by the Lord, and God knows the work He has planned for us. He will set us to doing the work that He has designed us to do. And He will be with us in our efforts. He will rescue us from harm. He will strengthen us in our labors.

What we must do is trust in God. And when we have learned to trust, then we must step forward and dare to serve God.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Where is God calling you to serve Him?

Church Goes Out 2

Romans 12:11

Several weeks ago my mother experienced a hernia which caused intestinal blockage, the result of which was intense pain. Elderly and confused, she was struggling with her situation and when she was taken to the hospital we had no idea a simple surgery could straighten things out.

My sister and I spent a stress-filled night in the hospital sitting up all night long at her bedside until we could meet with a doctor in the morning. It is times like that when we realize that our love for another person has no set amount of time, no limit in hours.

How long do you care for a loved one? The love continues forever.

Such is the case with our faith and our approach to loving God. How long do we have a fervor for God’s kingdom and the work of God’s love? It is never-ending.

What does Paul say about it in his letter to the Romans?

We can grow tired in our daily labors. We can grow weary with our jobs. Taking care of our homes can be a burden. Planning meals can become tedious, and we may reach that point when we simply want a break from it all.

The same can be felt in our spiritual walk. The challenges of being a Christian may seem to be too much for us. We may feel that there is only so much we can do to serve the Lord.

And those who commit to doing work for God can grow frustrated and tired with the lack of results – or at least tangible, visible results – of serving God. We can often feel that we have done all we can and there is nothing left to be done.

Still others commit to a certain amount of time. They serve the church or do ministry for a set number of years and then step back. It’s time for others to take on the work.

But Paul encourages all believers to hold on to that fervor and zeal in serving God. We need to spur ourselves on continually, allowing God’s love and Holy Spirit to charge us up and move us forward.

There is no end to the love we should have for the people of God. Our ministry is a ministry of a lifetime. We should live out the love and mercy of God all the time and in places.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How do you keep your spiritual fervor?

Church Goes Out 1

Luke 17:20-21

One day while teaching in the public schools I was frustrated with the behavior of many of my students. Gathered with other teachers in the lounge I complained about the kids and suggested that maybe the schools should offer a class on how to behave in public. Another teacher said, “You should be teaching that as part of your class.”

I should indeed have been teaching that. As an educator I was responsible for more than having my students learn about nouns and verbs and sentence structure. I was part of their development and should have directed them on what was acceptable and what was not acceptable.

The same attitude can be taken with our faith. We can all commiserate on the state of the world today. We can all complain that there is hatred and war and violence and an abundance of sinful behaviors that go against our Christian theology. But what will do about it?

So many Christian believers have a concept of the kingdom of God being that great and glorious day when Jesus returns on clouds of glory and God smites the wicked. He will set the goats on one side and the sheep on the other, and there will be peace on earth. But when will that day come?

How about now? Our faith is more than a relationship with God that guarantees our own salvation. Our life as Christians involves stepping out into a hurting and broken world, a world of challenges and anger, and being a force of love.

In Luke we have an account of Jesus being confronted by the religious leaders of his day. What do they ask? How will we NOT find the kingdom of heaven? Where is the kingdom of heaven?

What a profound and earth-shaking revelation. The days of peace are not a far off dream of those who love God. The kingdom of God can exist here on earth right now, today, if we will simply be agents for the Lord and live out the love of God.

Where is the kingdom of God? It is not a distant hope that we must wait for. The kingdom of God, that time of peace and love and compassion, exists right now in our hearts. We must live as children of God today, no longer tolerating sinful behavior – not even in ourselves – and sharing the love of God with all people. Then the kingdom of God will be with us.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you be part of the kingdom of God?

Outreach 5

Colossians 4:2-3

One of our church members was going through a difficult time with her health and called me to ask for prayer. The message was spread among church members that prayer was needed. A few days later I spoke to the woman who had been ill and she said that she felt the power of pray working with her.

From the moment she knew people were praying things got better and she felt comforted and stronger. She had confidence in the effects of prayer.

The letter to the church at Colosse offers a key way to be part of ministry. To what should believers devote themselves? How will others benefit?

When talking about doing mission and outreach through our church there are some members who are disappointed because they are not able to take part in most mission and outreach projects. Whether it is an issue of finances, age or physical abilities, they may not be able to participate in the hands-on work of missions.

Not all people are called to be missionaries. And that’s a good thing, otherwise there would be no one left in the church. There are many aspects to ministry, not all of which involves leaving home. In this passage we are encouraged to devote ourselves to prayer. This is a ministry we can all be involved in.

The first direction is that we should be watchful and thankful in our prayer. We should watch for occasions when God is needed to help others. We should offer thanks for what we have.

Our prayers should also extend to those individuals who are doing mission work. Our prayers should be for their safety and well-being, but we should also pray for their success. We should pray that God will open the doors of those in need so that the work of the missionaries will be accepted and be fruitful for God’s glory.

Through prayer we can all be part of mission and outreach in the kingdom of God.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Pray for the success and safety of a mission team you know of.

Outreach 4

Isaiah 58:6-7

From time to time the idea of fasting comes up. The concept is that a person should go without eating solid food for a day, or several days during the daylight hours, so that the person might focus on spiritual matters. The belief is that the absence of food sharpens your mind and allows for a more focused connection to God. Every time you feel hungry during a fast you should offer a prayer and concentrate again on God.

I have always had trouble with fasting. I suppose I am just a glutton at heart. But Isaiah offers some insight into fasting. What kind of fasting does God desire? How do these acts of kindness serve as a fast?

The strict concept of “fasting” is giving up food, but the general idea of a fast is that we give up something. The first part of Isaiah 58 is a comment on the attitudes of the Israelites. Isaiah claims that people wonder why they have fasted when there seems to be no response from God. According to Isaiah, God is saying that their fast is not sincere and perhaps a bit superficial.

If fasting is giving up something it is possible that we may need to give up something other than food. We may need to give up our own desires and comforts to allow God’s work to be done. We may need to give up our own ambitions so that we can do more for others who are in need.

If we do nothing to help the needy and the poor aren’t we permitting the chains of poverty and want to confine them? If we do nothing to promote justice aren’t we keeping the oppressed in the yokes of injustice?

Just as abstaining from food sharpens our focus on God, giving up on our own pleasures and comforts can help us remain focused on those who need our help. The fast we are called to may not be a fast of food. It may be that we need to give up ourselves so that our focus can be on helping those living in true need.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Can you do something to help the needy today?

Outreach 3

Romans 1:16

During a bad spell in my employment history I had to take a job as a bagger at a local grocery store. For good or for bad I must confess I was a bit ashamed of my job. Here I was in my thirties with a college degree and years of professional work experience and I was bagging groceries alongside teenagers at their first job.

Although we may not use the words “I am ashamed” when we talk about our faith, often our actions seem to indicate that shame. So many Christians will not speak of their belief in God or discuss the salvation they know through Christ. They claim that it is a private matter and there is no need to discuss it. But the truth is just the opposite.

In Paul’s letter to the church at Rome he explains a great deal about his own ministry and his bold ability to share the message of Jesus. How does he feel about the gospel? What value does it hold?

These words from Paul are words that are meant for more than just the emerging church in Rome. His words are meant for every believer in the world. None of us should be ashamed of the gospel.

If we are loved by God, valued by the Almighty Creator of the universe, if the Lord loves us so much that He gave His Son Jesus Christ to suffer and die on the cross for our salvation, shouldn’t we be jubilant in that knowledge? Shouldn’t we be shouting this news from the rooftops?

And yet we do not. And when given the opportunity to share our story and our faith with others, those who NEED to hear this story, we shrink away from the chance. We act as if we are ashamed of what God has done for us.

It may be fear that keeps us mute. It may be a mistaken belief that faith is strictly a private affair. But it can be interpreted as a sense of shame over what God has done.

If we value God and our faith, we should be willing to go into all the world to proclaim our faith and tell the good news of Jesus.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you be certain that your attitude and actions do not convey a sense of shame about he gospel?

Outreach 2

Joshua 1:9

My father once shared the story of a car ride he took with another man. He said the car was a mess, rattling and falling apart with one headlight pointed at the side of the road and the other shining in the trees. The driver was all over the road, weaving back and forth.

Seeing my dad’s anxiety the driver assured him, “Jesus is my co-pilot.” But Dad thought, “I believe Jesus jumped out of this car a few miles back.”

As Joshua took over leadership for the Israelites he certainly had his own worries. What assurance does God give him?

When we’re pinned down and asked directly about the idea of God’s presence, just about every faithful Christian will confess that they believe God is with them at all times. If we really stop and think about it and if we really believe what we are supposed to believe, then we should be confident that God is with us at all times.

But so often our attitudes and behavior can demonstrate just the opposite. If we are confronted with the unknown or with challenges and troubles we immediately begin fretting over our situation and our circumstances. When troubles come we feel all alone.

If we are called on to do work for the Lord, we hesitate. So few people are willing to do any type of outreach work for church because of the fears they have in that work.

It is uncomfortable and frightening to go into new neighborhoods, especially under-privileged neighborhoods, and try to help the needy. We fear that we will be victims of crime. We fear that we will not be at all successful in helping those in need.

The words God spoke to Joshua are words meant for us as well. “Be strong and courageous.” The Lord will be with you wherever you go.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you be strengthened to do the Lord’s work?

Outreach 1

1 John 4:19-21

Driving through our old neighborhood the other day we were reminded of the experiences we had with the people who lived next door. We didn’t always get along with them and we weren’t always happy with the way they kept their yard. It isn’t always easy to get along with other people.

But John has a message for us about loving others. Why do we love? What is required to love God? If we love God, who else must we love?

So often Christians like to talk about love, but they come up short when it is time to actually show love. We can celebrate the love of God and we can believe in love as long as it is an abstract idea.

When it comes time for showing love, for actually expressing love to the people who are in our lives, we often fail. We may find it too difficult to really love a person who is very different from us. We may be repelled by a lifestyle, how they dress or how they groom themselves. We may find it far too easy to judge them and find them lacking in what we value.

But we are called on to love our brothers. And the brothers we are called on to love are not just those people in our own community, but people all around the world, even those who are completely different and alien to us. John points out that these people, these brothers, are persons we can see with our eyes. We can bear witness to their plights and their troubles.

And yet, if we can not love these brothers who are in our lives, how can we possibly love the person of God who is unseen and far beyond our mind’s comprehension?

It is interesting that John begins this passage with a vote of confidence. God initiated this love. He loved us first. Perhaps, if we remember that God was able to love us, then we might be able to love others.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you show love to your brothers?

Be Welcoming 4

Titus 1:7-8

Although a pastor I am still a human being and am often tempted to behave just as most others might behave. If I am in a hurry I get frustrated with those who are in my way and become an obstacle. If I get cut off in traffic I am tempted to respond in anger and call out a few inappropriate words.

But I am fortunate enough to have a sticker in the rear window of my car that reminds everyone that I am a member of the clergy. As I drive I can see the small sticker proclaiming “clergy” in my mirror, and it reminds me that I must behave in a disciplined and holy way.

This letter to Titus provides guidance for church leaders. What attributes should an overseer NOT have? What are the requirements of an overseer?

From the very beginning of the church the faithful have been concerned about presenting a right and appropriate behavior to those who are new to the faith. This behavior is not a façade or false front, concealing the true actions of a person. Rather, these attributes should be a true part of who that person is. Those in the faith are warned not to be dishonest, prone to drunkenness or quick-tempered.

Instead the faithful followers of Jesus should genuinely be those who love good. Believers should be holy in their actions and attitude, and part of that holiness is to be hospitable to the outsider.

Some will say that these restrictions and guides are for officers in the church – the pastor, the board of deacons, the elders, or the lay leaders. But in fact these requirements apply to us all.

We are all leaders in the church. We are all overseers in our own congregations. We are each responsible for living an honest and upright life, loving what is good, being self-controlled, holy and disciplined. And we should all be hospitable.

It is up to each of us as members of Christ’s body – the church – to be hospitable and welcoming to those who will come to visit our places of worship. We must be welcoming and warm, encouraging to those who are new to the faith.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What can remind you to be hospitable?

Be Welcoming 3

1 Peter 4:10-11

When our children got involved in some of the plays put on at school my wife and I, both veterans of the theater, told them the old adage – “There are no small parts, only small actors.” With only a single line of dialogue or serving as part of the crew, hidden from view, involvement in the play at first seemed somewhat less than exciting. But we emphasized that it took all the different parts and services in a play to make the whole effort a success.

The same is true in our work for God. What does Peter remind us of? What are his comments about serving?

It is very easy to fall into the misconception that only those who preach or work as foreign missionaries are really serving God. Too many believe the only way to reach the unsaved is to present a God-inspired sermon. Too many believe that the only way to help the needy is to live in a grass hut in the jungle ministering to the poor.

This can foster a defeatist attitude and a lackluster approach to serving God. We recognize that we do not possess these gifts and decide not to do anything at all. But we all have a part to play in serving God.

The work of God’s kingdom involves many different gifts and skills. An incredible variety of talents and interests can be employed in serving both God and man. Peter urges us to use our gifts, our God-given abilities and talents, to serve other people.

Peter also reminds us that as we employ our abilities we need to remember who it is that has given us these abilities and for whom we are working. We need to do whatever we can for the benefit of the kingdom of God and do it with zeal and joy, focusing on glorifying God in what we do.

One simple way to serve the Lord is to make those new to the faith and new to the church feel welcome. We may need to set our own desires and comforts aside for the benefit of others. Rather than judging those who enter our place of worship we should do all we can to provide them with loving guidance, forgiveness and grace, and a sincere welcoming heart.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What are you talented at doing? How can this be used to welcome others and help them?